Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Donnenwerth.
Amy, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
We are a small counseling practice in the heart of the Driftless Region of southeastern Minnesota. We are approaching our one year anniversary coming up in January. Our mission is to provide Individualized, Informed and Innovative mental health care to our community members ages 5 and older. Our practice began as a dream to serve our community members with a family approach that integrates nature, art, movement, music and, most of all, human connection. This dream has developed from my first position as a third grade teacher that witnessed the power of connection in student achievement. I have prioritized meaningful connections ever since as an elementary teacher, school counselor, youth sports coach, fitness instructor, stay-at-home mom, bible study leader to what is now Gray Matters Therapy as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and business owner.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has been full of exciting curves, sharp turns and, mostly, an incredibly fast pace! We have found that our community is full of desire to grow our mental health resources and programming. We learn more every day and continue to make meaningful adjustments to best fit our community’s and therapists’ needs.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
We provide mental health counseling and programming with creativity and passion that builds special connections with our clients. We integrate nature, music, art, physical movement and literature to individualize wellness plans unique to each client/family. Each of our treatment plans looks and feels different based on the client’s needs, passions and definition of wellness. Using connections with local professionals, we enjoy creating a “team” to best support clients that often includes primary care providers, teachers, social workers and/or additional specialists.
I also develop programming for small groups to meet the current needs of our community with special groups and events such as Glow Up Girls (confidence skill building group for teen girls), Hormone Happy Hour (informational seminar about women’s transitions through menapause), Parenting Your Anxious Child (education to support parents with anxious children), and Positive Parenting Through Sports (education on child development to support appropriate parent expectations of children in sports and ways to use sports to improve connections within the family).
With the desire to be engaged with our community based on needs and values, I am able to support individuals, sports teams, school professionals and community groups in a passionate, informed and creative style.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Creating a team to support our business or others is a top priority for us at Gray Matters Therapy. We encourage collaboration with each client’s treatment plan, with community partnerships in shared projects, and development of programming with school and community officials. When our community experts collaborate, we all benefit and grow stronger. Collaboration provides innovation and more precise care for each of our clients and projects. We prioritize our community partners by reaching out to support individuals and groups, by offering opportunities to build knowledge and support and by supporting local events and missions that are in line with the mission of Gray Matters Therapy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.graymatterstherapymn.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/graymatterstherapy?igsh=MWk2YWN1eWM1bGRxMg%3D%3D
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrayMattersTherapyWinona/
